Chapter Twelve
I freeze as I step into my bedroom, the sound of the shower running forcing my feet to plant to the floor. Through the door, I can hear her soft, raspy voice, singing gently, just loud enough to be heard over the running water.
It sends a shiver down my spine and raises the hair on my arms.
She can sing.
I’d only come in here to grab my cell after I’d left it on charge on my nightstand this morning, but now I’m finding it hard to tear myself away from the sound.
I don’t recognize the song, but the lyrics feel heavy even though the way she sings them sounds airy and light.
Unable to stop myself, I cross the room, moving closer to the bathroom door just so I can hear it better, but then the shower shuts off and I only have a second to lunge away from the door before it opens and a cloud of steam billows out of it.
My eyes snap to her face, her own body frozen as she stands there in a towel, water dripping down her body, a towel on her head to keep all those honey-blonde locks wrapped up.
Snatching my cell from the nightstand, I rip my eyes away from her, pretending I didn’t notice the freckles on her shoulders or the way the water rolled down her skin.
What kind of fucking man am I to look at a woman who’s only just escaped a dangerous situation like that?
“Sorry,” I grunt, “Just needed to grab my phone.”
“It’s okay,” she rasps, “This is your bedroom.”
“I’ll leave you to it,” I practically sprint for the door as her scent starts to mingle with mine in the air. Sugary sweet and entirely too tempting.
“Silas,” her voice calls after me, forcing me to pause with my hand on the door. Glancing over my shoulder, I look toward her, waiting for her to finish whatever it is she wants to say, but the silence drags on, her wide eyes hesitant.
“What song were you singing?” I ask to fill the void.
“You heard me?” Her cheeks, already pink from the heat of the shower, turn darker.
“You’re good,” I swallow, hand so tight on the door handle, the skin across my knuckles has turned white.
“It was Coal by Dylan Gossett,” she looks to her feet. “I didn’t think anyone would be in here.”
“That’s on me,” I mutter. “Sorry.”
I don’t wait for her to respond and dip out, closing the door behind me. Fuck.
My steps feel weighted as I move back into the living room.
Rosie and Caleb are glued to the TV, Spirit playing across the screen.
They should have just settled on that in the first place instead of arguing like sworn enemies, since it’s their go-to and the only thing they ever agree on.
Picking up my coffee, I open my emails and go through the ones I’ve neglected over the past couple of weeks, using them as a distraction from the woman currently trying to possess my thoughts.
My kids are aware of her presence; the how and why she is here, not so much, but they’re good kids. They’ll welcome her; hell, Rosie will probably try to become her best friend like she did with my brother’s wife, while Caleb will remain polite but reserved.
His mother leaving did a number on him, and we’re still in the process of fixing the damage it caused.
Her bedroom door clicks open and Juni appears, her long blonde hair still wet from the shower, and she’s in a pair of denim shorts and a tight white tee that molds to the shape of her body, outlining every curve and dip.
Fucking hell.
“Want some coffee?” My voice comes out strained and slightly rougher than I intend.
“Sure,” she nods, walking toward me slowly. The bruise on her face appears darker in the daylight, the shadows beneath her skin covering her cheekbone and the corner of her eye.
Grabbing her a cup, I pour her some coffee and then slide the creamer and sugar pot toward her so she can make it how she likes.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the three heaping spoons of sugar she adds wasn’t it, and she only adds a dash of creamer, enough to turn the coffee maybe two shades lighter.
“Are you Juni?” Rosie comes padding toward her, her curiosity lighting up her face.
Brown eyes flick from me to my daughter, and I watch her completely change. Gone is the hesitancy, the nerves; instead, her face is light, eyes bright, the change so drastic I almost don’t recognize her.
“I am,” Juni lowers to a crouch to get on eye level with Rosie, “And you must be Rosie, am I right?”
Rosie nods, “You have an ouch, Miss Juni.”
Tentatively, Juni whispers her fingers over the edge of the bruise on her face, “I do, but you know what? It’ll heal and be better in no time.”
“I get bruises when I bash my knees,” Rosie tells her matter-of-factly.
Leaning my hip on the counter, I watch the woman who has every right to sink into herself and shut out the world interact with my Rosie. She hides all of that darkness from her, only giving her light and kindness.
“So do I,” Juni smiles at her, “But sometimes bashed knees are part of the fun.”
“That’s what I said!” Rosie widens her eyes, “Like the time I jumped off the jungle gym.”
I wince. That wasn’t just a bruise; that was a broken wrist.
“I told daddy it was worth it cause it felt like I was flying.”
Juni chuckles and looks over my daughter’s head, toward Caleb who is watching them from afar. He has his knees against his chest, a frown lowering his brows.
“You must be Caleb,” Juni addresses him, “I’m Juni.”
He nods silently and offers nothing more. Instead of pushing, Juni simply gives him a soft smile and goes back to Rosie, who starts dumping every single piece of information on her. Her favorite color, favorite snack, and everything she’s learning at school.
“Alright,” I clap my hands to get my daughter’s attention, “Are you ready to go meet the new horse?”
Caleb jumps up from the couch, “Now!?”
“Can Miss Juni come!?” Rosie jumps up and down, and I flick my eyes to her, her hands cradling her coffee cup as she takes a sip.
“If she would like to,” I address her directly.
“Do you want to!?” Rosie gets real close to Juni, staring up at her with big blue eyes, pleading, “You want to, right!?”
“It’s Dottie,” I inform her.
“I would love to,” she smiles down at Rosie.
My daughter’s eyes light up, and she seizes Juni’s hand, leading her to the front door.
I step up behind her, purposely leaving a gap between us, but there’s no stopping the heat of her pressing into me or the way her scent wraps around me like a drug.
“If it gets too much, let me know.” I whisper so the kids don’t hear.
She gives me a soft nod, eyes meeting mine. “Thank you.”
Rosie leads the charge, dragging Juni with her as they walk hand in hand toward the stables Dottie has been placed in.
She settled in pretty well, though that fiery attitude of hers still remains with everyone else but me.
I’ve placed her next to Mars, my gelding Mustang I’ve had since I was about twenty-two.
I’m thirty-four now, but I raised him from a colt, and I know him.
He’ll help Dottie in a way only horses can, or at least that’s the hope.
Rosie stops outside Mars’s stable and waits for me, even though his big white head shoves over the door, his dark eyes on his favorite person. His head nods up and down in excitement, lips smacking as he waits for Rosie to kiss his nose like she always does.
“Hi Mars!” Rosie grins up at him, giving him exactly what he wants. When he’s satisfied, he swings his head up to Juni and reaches forward with his nose, turning soft as he presses it to the bruise on her cheek. And this is why I love my horse. Because he knows.
“Oh,” Juni lifts her hands to cradle his face, stroking him, but the moment only lasts a few more minutes when Dottie decides it’s time for attention. She kicks the door and shoves her head over it, huffing through her nose.
Rosie gasps, running to the door where she can see the Appaloosa, “I love her.” She squeals.
Juni and the kids spend the morning on the other side of the fence, watching me as I continued Dottie’s training. The filly has come along in leaps and bounds since the first day I met her, but there’s still a long way to go. Our biggest task will be getting her used to more people than just me.
The day turns hot as midday rolls around; the sun beating down on the ranch, no cloud in sight, so I take Dottie down to one of the shadier pastures to let her roam for the afternoon.
Mars is in the one beside her with a few of the other geldings, a fence separating them.
She can’t be trusted yet with other horses, but constant exposure to them will help her become used to their company and also aid her training as she watches them interact with the other people on this ranch.
We are all just heading back to the house when a familiar SUV pulls up to the pasture. From the driver’s side, Darcy climbs out, a folder in hand.
“I’ve been looking for you,” she says to me directly before she gives my kids a quick greeting, eyes pausing on Juni. Her brows lower, “Wait. Do I know you?”
“Darcy, this is Juni; you met her when you came to look over Dottie.”
“Right,” Darcy nods. “But why are you here? If you think you’re taking that filly back, you’re mistaken. I’ll have you arrested for animal neglect.”
Juni’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back.
“Darcy,” I snap, “She’s a fucking guest.”
“Why are you being mean?” Rosie tells her off.
“A guest?” Darcy blinks, and as if only just seeing the bruise on her face, her eyes widen. “Oh, shit.”
“That’s a bad word!” my daughter helpfully points out.
Juni stares down at the ground, her shoulders curving inwards, and I don’t think, just respond, subtly reaching for her pinky finger with my own, giving her a point of contact to rely on.
“I didn’t realize,” Darcy softens, “Shit, I’m so sorry.”
Juni gives her a fake smile, “I didn’t know she was young either.”
“It’s not easy to tell unless you know what to look for,” Darcy swallows, looking to where my finger is linked with Juni’s. “I really am truly sorry; I thought the worst without asking questions first.”
“I get it,” Juni shrugs, acting nonchalant, but her body has tensed up and has yet to release. “Cal is a piece of work.”
“I, um,” Darcy passes me the folder she’s holding, “I have Dottie’s bloodwork all completed. It’s all in there. Other than her age, she’s healthy.”
“Thank you,” I grind out, still pissed at her for the way she just treated Juni.
“I’ve got to get going,” she hikes a thumb over her shoulder, eyes swinging back to the woman at my side. She apologizes again before she rushes back to the SUV, reversing to turn around and then disappears back to the clinic she has here on the ranch.
I open my mouth to say something, but Juni shakes her head. “Don’t. I get it. I would have assumed the worst too, and she’s only protecting Dottie. I’m fine.”
I purse my lips, not entirely happy, but I don’t push her.
“I’m actually just going to get some sleep,” Juni unlinks her finger from mine, “if that’s okay?”
I nod, and the moment I do, she’s turning away, her steps quick as she heads to the house, disappearing through the door.
“Is she sad, Dad?” Caleb stares after her the same way I do.
“Yeah, bud,” I swallow, “But I think we can help with that.”